Description
These Crispy Chicken, Corn & Black Bean Tortilla Melts are a quick and satisfying meal, combining crunchy baked corn tortillas topped with a flavorful mixture of shredded chicken, corn, black beans, salsa, and taco seasoning, all melted under a blanket of gooey Colby Jack cheese. Garnished with fresh cilantro and diced tomatoes, they make for a perfect dinner or snack packed with Tex-Mex flavors.
Ingredients
Scale
Base
- 8 corn tortillas (6-inch size)
- 1 tbsp cooking oil
Filling
- 8.5 oz canned corn, drained
- 1 1/2 cups cooked chicken, shredded
- 8 oz salsa (store-bought or homemade)
- 2 tbsp taco seasoning mix
- 15 oz black beans, rinsed and drained
Toppings & Garnish
- 2 cups shredded Colby Jack cheese
- Fresh cilantro leaves (for garnish)
- Diced tomatoes (for garnish)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven: Set your oven to 450°F (230°C) so it can reach the right temperature while you prepare the ingredients.
- Prepare the tortillas: Place the corn tortillas on a rimmed baking sheet and brush both sides lightly with cooking oil to ensure they bake up crispy and golden.
- Bake the tortillas: Bake the oiled tortillas for about 10 minutes, flipping them halfway through to crisp both sides evenly. Watch closely and check every 2–3 minutes to avoid burning. Remove when they are nicely crisp.
- Make the filling: While the tortillas bake, heat a medium saucepan over medium heat. Combine the drained corn, shredded chicken, salsa, taco seasoning, and rinsed black beans. Stir occasionally and cook for approximately 5 minutes until everything is heated through and well seasoned.
- Assemble the tostadas: Spoon about 1/2 cup of the chicken and bean mixture evenly over each crispy tortilla. Then top each with 1/4 cup of shredded Colby Jack cheese.
- Final bake: Return the loaded tortillas to the oven and bake for an additional 5 minutes or until the cheese has melted and is bubbly.
- Garnish and serve: Remove from the oven and garnish each tortilla melt with fresh cilantro leaves and diced tomatoes. Serve immediately while hot and crispy.
Notes
- Keep an eye on the tortillas while baking to prevent burning, as oven temperatures can vary.
- Feel free to swap Colby Jack cheese for Monterey Jack or Cheddar if preferred.
- Use leftover cooked chicken or rotisserie chicken to save time.
- Taco seasoning can be homemade or store-bought; adjust the amount to taste.
- For added heat, add jalapeños or hot sauce to the filling mixture.
